Chapter 55

Chapter 54. White Dream Hall (1)

The Demon Sect is composed of temples and halls.

That is, it consists of four large estates and eight important buildings known as halls.

The White Dream Hall is one of the eight halls and operates independently under the direct orders of the Sect Leader.

The hall master's official rank is an impressive 29th.

He is known to have a high reputation, attending the headquarters meeting room where major and minor affairs are managed, a position higher than the first-generation disciples.

And he has come here to meet me in person.

"Nice to meet you. I am the White Dream Hall Master, Manjeomsura."

He had an appearance and demeanor akin to a tiger.

His eyes gleamed with a fierce light, and his white beard, which reached down to his chest, gave him the air of an absolute master.

Especially, the large sword of unknown name on his back made one wonder if it was truly a practical weapon.

However, what caught my eye more than his appearance was the symbol floating above his head.

[Cooperation x 2]

'What is cooperation?'

I had seen life, insight, and love, but the word "cooperation" was new to me.

Also, this was the first time I had seen a symbol.

It was the "x" symbol.

Moreover, there was no numerical value indicating his combat power.

"What brings you here?"

"What brings me here, indeed."

Seohui asked as respectfully as possible, but the answer he received was not very helpful.

It seemed more conversation was needed to understand his thoughts.

"I don't know."

"If you don't know, then guess. I have a feeling you can figure it out."

'Not good.'

His intent was extremely obvious.

I had a feeling he knew I had stolen the elixir.

Seohui found it hard to believe.

He had also learned advanced tracking techniques.

The lightness technique he used at the time was such that he was certain no one could have known.

"Guess?"

Seohui couldn't ponder further due to the repeated question from the White Dream Hall Master.

Just as he was about to say he didn't know, a message suddenly appeared.

'Huh?'

It had been a long time.

But the message that appeared after such a long time was:

▶ What are you talking about? That's not even a proper sentence. 18 Really annoying.

▷ I ate that elixir. Is there a problem?

9…… 8……

He showed two absurd messages.

Not only did the selection window appear, but the response was also incredibly reckless.

It was like the first time he met Gonma, where no choice was given.

4…… 3……

The only hopeful thing was that, based on past experiences, the message that always seemed to be the worst choice turned out to be the only way out.

But this time, even considering that, the intensity was too much.

[You have chosen: 'What are you talking about? That's not even a proper sentence. 18 Really annoying.']

The situation continued.

'There must be a way out.'

Seohui observed his opponent.

In the past, he would have been terrified to the point of struggling in this situation, but not now.

Even if he died here, he still had several more lives left.

Just then, the smile on the White Dream Hall Master's face vanished.

'Why isn't he speaking?'

The White Dream Hall Master was staring at him intently, remaining silent.

It was unclear whether he was shocked or trying to show a bold demeanor.

But it was suffocating to continue staring at him like this.

"Quite a bold child, aren't you?"

'Did it work?'

It was a situation where a punch could fly at any moment.

But he seemed to relax a bit and started a conversation.

It seemed to suggest that his choice was not wrong.

"Sometimes, when I walk around, I see the traces of the Fire Lily on my subordinates' faces. It's usually a reaction that occurs after taking an elixir, known as a 'purging phenomenon.'"

"……Yes?"

"It's okay. You might have tried to hide it. What kind of elixir was it? Right?"

"Ah!"

Just as he was about to say something, Seohui realized his neck was already in the White Dream Hall Master's grip.

It wasn't just fast; it was a situation that made one wonder if it could happen in reality.

"Hey, young man. If you thought I couldn't kill you, you were mistaken. I don't stand in any of the formations of the Heavenly Demon disciples. So……."

Thud.

"Ah!"

Severe pain blurred Seohui's vision.

The pain did not lie.

His chest had been pierced by a single punch.

"Killing you wouldn't be a problem."

A faint laugh.

That was the last thing he heard.

Without any resistance.

<You have three lives remaining.>

This life ended here.

* * *

[Returning to 'Chapter 3-8. [Core Warrior Success] Stormy Growth Period (Bonus Story) Year 1.']

"Damn! What kind of life is this!"

Seohui, who had returned to a point before the time record, was furious.

The message choice was wrong, and he was struck down in a single blow without any chance to counter.

"I accepted a cursed mission."

Everything was fine until he obtained the Zayongchao, but after that, everything went wrong.

The White Dream Hall Master's visit suggested he was confident about the existence of the Zayongchao.

"Was it the right choice?"

He seriously considered this when he recalled the saved point.

If it was the wrong path, wouldn't it be better to take a different one?

At least, he wouldn't receive such a dangerous message.

Still, Seohui chose this point.

He wanted to understand the meaning of the word "cooperation."

"The first message was clearly not it."

It was absurd to think he could survive after insulting the White Dream Hall Master.

Moreover, this experience taught Seohui that the worst choice didn't always save him.

"Ultimately, was the other choice the answer?"

If so, the second message.

The choice of admitting he had taken the elixir remained.

After dying once, it became clearer that this choice was correct.

"But what if, from the beginning, I shouldn't have taken the Zayongchao……"

Seohui also considered another possibility.

What if he shouldn't have possessed the Zayongchao from the start?

In that case, the correct answer might be to give it directly to Gonma, as Hong suggested.

Fortunately, he had placed the Zayongchao in his tool box before saving in his previous life.

This allowed him to still decide how to use it.

"What if giving it to Gonma doesn't solve the problem?"

Seohui became even more troubled as he considered another scenario.

Even if the White Dream Hall Master found out Gonma had taken it, he wouldn't just sit still.

Or, Gonma might abandon him, fearing a conflict with the White Dream Hall Master.

He couldn't predict where the Zayongchao incident would lead.

Seohui decided to reset the situation to the beginning.

In this situation, he would judge based only on what was clearly in front of him, rather than making assumptions.

"Cooperation must have some meaning……"

The only clue was the word "cooperation."

He wasn't sure what it meant or how it would work, but he was certain it was related to the Zayongchao he held.

* * *

Seohui spent over twenty days in the room.

In fact, after a day of deliberation, he decided how to act.

And that decision was to give the Zayongchao directly to the White Dream Hall Master, not to Gonma.

He knew it was dangerous, but there was a part he couldn't give up.

The word "cooperation."

It might bring him another stroke of luck.

[The White Dream Hall Master, Manjeomsura, wishes to see Seohui.]

One morning.

The message appeared before him as it did before.

After accepting, Seohui greeted him at the door as he had done previously.

"Nice to meet you. I am the White Dream Hall Master, Manjeomsura."

This was the second time he faced this situation.

Despite his calm tone, Seohui's spine tingled.

He had experienced his power once.

"Yes, you have come."

"……?"

His calm response seemed to surprise the White Dream Hall Master.

Seohui quickly continued, fearing a message might appear.

"I have something to say. Please come inside."

* * *

As he entered the room, Seohui became increasingly anxious.

If a message appeared suddenly, it would ruin everything.

Thus, even maintaining a calm demeanor was a struggle.

"You seem to have been waiting for me."

He asked softly as he sat down.

His voice was as calm as a lake, but it contained a powerful force like a whirlpool.

So,

"There is a reason."

"……?"

"I know where the Zayongchao is."

He took the initiative.

He didn't know where it would lead, but he had to.

"Hmm."

The White Dream Hall Master stroked his white beard and looked up.

His lips curved subtly.

It was unclear how he took it, but one thing was certain: it didn't matter what it meant.

If he couldn't withstand the pressure, he had to enter it.

"But I can't just tell you."

Seohui tried his best not to meet his gaze.

He needed to steer the conversation in a direction that would benefit him.

To a battlefield where he had the advantage.

To a way of fighting where he could win.

"Because Gonma also knows about this."

"……"

Seohui kept his eyes on the table.

Now was the time to wait.

To see if he would take the Zayongchao or not.

It didn't matter which choice he made.

His life was secured with this.

After quite some time,

"I'll take it."

"……!"

"Wasn't the Zayongchao ours to begin with? I'll explain it to the disciple as well. Let's cooperate."

'Cooperate……?'

An unexpected response.

It wasn't that he didn't expect a positive response, but he never thought he would suggest cooperation.

Seohui met his gaze for the first time.

For some reason, the word "cooperation" seemed particularly clear.

"Alright. Here it is."

There was no need to hesitate.

If cooperation meant life, this was a greater benefit to him.

The elixir was a pity, but he didn't see an easy way to keep it.

"Where is it?"

In response to the White Dream Hall Master's question, Seohui reached into his robe.

He slowly handed over the Zayongchao he had secured in advance.

"Hmm. Thank you. You've done well."

Creak.

He turned around.

Seohui felt a brief sense of relief, but then a thought he couldn't understand crossed his mind.

'Why isn't it disappearing?'

The White Dream Hall Master had clearly said "cooperate."

So the word and symbol in his head should have disappeared.

But,

[Cooperation x 2]

The text still floated above his head.

"Ah, and."

The White Dream Hall Master stopped, as if he had something else to say.

"Was there something else?"

Could it be that the cooperation would disappear now?

Seohui tilted his head and asked.

"It's just that……."

The White Dream Hall Master slowly turned around.

And as he spoke, a status window appeared before Seohui's eyes.

"The value of my subordinates' lives."

[Warning! The White Dream Hall Master has found a weakness in Seohui. How will you respond?]

'What?'

He never expected this.

He thought the White Dream Hall Master would leave.

▶ Counterattack.

▷ Defend.

▷ Flee.

To be ambushed like this.

Really.

He never imagined it.